A greedy Aberdeen mum, who was jailed for fraudulently claiming more than £50,000 in benefits, is attempting to be freed from prison.
Sandra Innes was locked up for 16 months after being caught stealing thousands of pounds from the Department of Work and Pensions and Aberdeen City Council.
At the time of the fraud, it emerged she was secretly sitting on an inheritance pot of more than £250,000.
During a five-year period, she splurged the cash on a new house and indulged in a lavish lifestyle – while claiming benefits to which she was not entitled.
In total, she swindled taxpayers out of £50,315.01 before she was caught.
Aberdeen Sheriff Court previously heard that Innes signed over her £110,000 home to her son when her crimes were discovered.
And now, just two months into her sentence, Innes is trying to be released from prison on house arrest.
The Crown is currently striving to claw back some of the illicit cash she gained, but the 56-year-old claims she has “nothing left” to give.
In order for any funds to be confiscated, a hearing will need to be set in order to determine how much, if anything, Innes can afford to pay back.
However, Innes will not be allowed to go home until all proceedings against her are over.
The mum shook in the dock when Sheriff Graeme Napier said the court could not accommodate her until at least the end of October, by which time she will have served the equivalent of a 10-month sentence.
She had initially denied the fraud allegations and went on trial at Aberdeen Sheriff Court.
But, while giving evidence, she crumbled in front of a jury and admitted she was guilty.
Between October 8, 2008, and January 16, 2013, she fraudulently claimed £21,633.15 in income support.
She also failed to notify officials at Aberdeen City Council about the capital she had in her bank account and claimed housing and council tax benefits of £25,822.26.
Innes fradulently claimed a further £2,859.60 of employment support allowance between January 17 and October 23, 2013.
